Always Be My Maybe: a nice but generic rom-com
Always Be My Maybe is a nice film, funny at times, it's nothing more than a generic, paint-by-numbers rom-com we've seen countless times before
Always Be My Maybe, the Netflix-produced rom-com starring Ali Wong and Randall Park, caused a bit of a social media stir on its release day. People were excited that another film led by an all Asian-American cast, written by all Asian-American writers, had received prominent billing on Netflix. But was it any good? The sad truth is that while Always Be My Maybe is a nice film, funny at times, it's nothing more than a generic, paint-by-numbers rom-com we've seen countless times before.
Ali Wong plays Sasha Tran, a successful celebrity Chef whose life is shaken when her douchebag fiancé (played to douchebag perfection by Daniel Dae Kim) decides to end their engagement. Her life reconnects with her childhood friend, the talented but slacker musician Marcus Kim (Randall Park) whose path has gone a slightly different way. Their inverse socio-economic situation is a big part of the film; rich girl dating poor boy- and makes for sometimes funny situations. It's a common story that is sprinkled with a little Asian-American personality but can't get past any of the rom-com stereotypes we've seen countless times before. Wise, humble father keeping perennially underachieving son in check? Check. Goofy friends providing instant cheap jokes? Check. Boy/girl makes terrible mistake before the grand public display of remorse? Check. Check, check, check. Even the Keanu Reeves cameo, playing an exaggerated version of himself, is just a little off. His portrayal of the jerk version of himself just doesn't sit right; almost as if it is impossible to suspend the belief that Reeves is a giant, self-centred egomaniac of epic proportions. Can't do it, because we all know that he isn't.
If there is a bright spot to Always Be My Maybe its that of Ali Wong. She's working with a limited canvas (surprising because the main cast are the film's writers) and shines quite brightly. Wong is a star; brilliant, funny, charismatic- and when she's able to tap into the incredible energy and humor of her stand-up, the screen lights up with acerbic wit and humor. She's just shackled by the rom-com's fear of doing anything outside the rom-com box that she doesn't get enough opportunity to really let loose. The rest of the cast are commendable without being memorable; all fitting themselves in the rom-com mold. Randall Park proves that being a slacker is universal, regardless of skin color- a role that would have been filled by someone like Jason Biggs if this film was made in the early 00s. The rest of the cast are OK without being too forgettable- something that at least doesn't detract from the film. By the film's predictable end, we are left with neither terrible disappointment or excitement- just a sense of nonchalance.
Netflix has a serious movie problem. They are all mostly terrible to mediocre at best. Thankfully, Always Be My Maybe is a little closer to the latter than the former, but really doesn't do much outside the confines of your average, generic rom-com that we've seen countless times before. The only real difference is that instead of seeing Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts, or Rachel Leigh Cook and Freddie Prinze Jr, we see Ali Wong and Randall Park. I suppose, in the end, it is some sort of achievement confirming that Asian-American stories are just as boring and generic as everyone else's.
Always Be My Maybe is streaming now on Netflix.